[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16363-16364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7760]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 61 / Thursday, March 30, 1995 / Rules 
and Regulations  
[[Page 16363]]

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AG74


Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Clinton, NY, 
Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing interim 
regulations to abolish the Clinton, NY, nonappropriated fund (NAF) 
Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area and add Clinton County, NY, as an 
area of application to the Oneida, NY, NAF wage area for pay-setting 
purposes. No employee's wage rate will be reduced as a result of this 
change.

DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on March 30, 1995. Comments 
must be received by May 1, 1995. Employees paid rates from the Clinton, 
NY, NAF wage schedule will continue to be paid from the schedule until 
their conversion to the new Oneida, NY, NAF wage schedule on its 
effective date, May 4, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Acting 
Assistant Director for Compensation Policy, Human Resources Systems 
Service, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Room 6H31, 1900 E Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20415.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Shields, (202) 606-2848.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Defense recommended to the 
Office of Personnel Management that the Clinton, NY, NAF wage area be 
abolished and that Clinton County be added as an area of application to 
the Oneida, NY, NAF wage area. With the scheduled 1995 closing of the 
host installation, Plattsburgh Air Force Base (AFB), there will no 
longer be a local activity with the capability to do the Clinton, NY, 
survey. There will, however, still be about 23 NAF employees in Clinton 
County. Neither of the current area of application counties, Chittenden 
and Franklin, VT, has FWS NAF employees.
    The provisions of 5 CFR 532.219 list the following criteria for 
consideration when two or more counties are to be combined to 
constitute a single wage area:
    (1) Proximity of largest activity in each county;
    (2) Transportation facilities and commuting patterns; and
    (3) Similarities of the counties in:
    (i) Overall population;
    (ii) Private employment in major industry categories; and
    (iii) Kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments.
    There criteria are discussed in turn below.
    Of the largest nearby activities with NAF employees, Plattsburgh 
AFB, Clinton County, NY, is closest to Griffiss Air Force Base, Oneida, 
NY. Slightly more distant are Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the U.S. 
Military Academy. Distances from Plattsburgh Air Force Base to the host 
activities of the surrounding wage areas are as follows: Griffiss Air 
Force Base, Oneida County, 320 km (199 miles); Portsmouth Naval Ship 
Yard, York County, ME, 362 km (225 miles); and the United States 
Military Academy, Orange County, NY, 396 km (246 miles).
    Considering transportation facilities, from Plattsburgh AFB, the 
largest installations in the three surrounding survey areas can all be 
reached easily by Interstate Highways and some primary undivided roads. 
An analysis of 1990 census commuting patterns data indicates that no 
workers commute between Clinton County, NY, and the three survey 
counties under consideration (Oneida, York, and Orange).
    In terms of similarities of the counties in overall population, 
private employment, and kinds and sizes of private industrial 
establishments, Clinton County is most similar to York County.
    In summary, the first criterion, proximity, favors Oneida County. 
Considering the second criterion, transportation facilities and 
commuting patterns, none of the three counties being considered is 
favored. The third criterion, similarities in population and industry, 
favors York County. On balance, evaluation under the criteria favors 
the definition of Clinton County to the Oneida, NY, NAF wage area.
    The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee reviewed this 
recommendation and by consensus recommended approval.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), I find that good cause exists 
for waiving the general notice of proposed rulemaking. Also, pursuant 
to section 553(d)(3) of title 5, United States Code, I find that good 
cause exists for making this rule effective in less than 30 days. The 
notice is being waived and the regulation is being made effective in 
less than 30 days because preparations for the March 1995 Clinton 
survey must otherwise begin immediately.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I certify that these regulations will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they 
affect only Federal agencies and employees.

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 532

    Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of information, 
Government employees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wages.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Lorraine A. Green,
Deputy Director.

    Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR part 532 as follows:

PART 532--PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS

    1. The authority citation for part 532 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5343, 5346; Sec. 532.707 also issued under 5 
U.S.C. 552.

Appendix B to Subpart B of Part 532 [Amended]

    2. In Appendix B to subpart B of part 532, the listing for the 
State of New York is amended by removing the entry for Clinton.

Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 532 [Amended]

    3. Appendix D to subpart B of part 532 is amended by removing the 
entry [[Page 16364]] for Clinton, New York, and by revising the entry 
for Oneida, New York, to read as follows:
Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 532--Nonappropriated Fund Wage and 
Survey Areas
* * * * *
New York
* * * * *
Oneida

Survey area

New York:
    Oneida

Area of application. Survey area plus:

New York:
    Albany
    Clinton (Effective date May 4, 1995)
    Jefferson
    Onondago
    Ontario
    Saratoga
    Schenectady
    Seneca
    Steuben
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 95-7760 Filed 3-29-95; 8:45 am]
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